Giraffe Manor

Map of Giraffe Manor

Giraffe Manor | Kenya

Giraffe Manor is a joyous choice of accommodation in Nairobi; it is fun. This gorgeous old manor house has history and an uplifting atmosphere. The excitement of wonderful, long noses pushing through the windows of the breakfast room is shared by guests and staff alike, despite the fact that many of the latter have been here for decades.

An old, historic ‘English country’ house dating back to the 1930s, the heyday of the colonial era in Kenya. The history of elegant-legged giraffes on its lawns dates back to the 1970s, when Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville first adopted an orphaned Rothschild giraffe, and then another. Their lives then became entirely focused on rehabilitating and preserving this threatened species, and they developed the giraffe sanctuary on the grounds.

The giraffes are nurtured within the 140 acres of the estate, until they are ready to be reintroduced into the wilds of safer National Parks and game reserves wherever possible. Some, such as Lynne, the wonderful old mama who has recently had a calf, prefer to stay and eat giraffe nuts from the hands, and occasionally mouths, of thrilled guests and staff.

Giraffe Manor: What to expect

Beneath the ranging long legs are a number of shorter ones, on less beautiful but very endearing warthogs, and peacocks can be spotted stalking the grass.
The house is run as a house party, with dinner served at a long table in the dining room, after drinks by the fire on the terrace overlooking the rolling lawns. The mood is old school elegance, awash with the colonial history that made this a family home just a generation ago.
There were originally five rooms in the main house, now there are 10 as a very sympathetic extension has been added. The old rooms are a little dusty and basic these days, but they retain the character of the bygone days, and the new extension has been brilliantly designed in keeping with the style of the rest of the house. It's a brilliant start or end to a Kenya Safari or even any other African Safari

Giraffe Manor, Kenya Cost

Although Giraffe Manor offers a really unique experience but because of its fame, prices have rocketed and it is almost certainly not available unless you are booking at least a year in advance. As such, if you would like to begin your trip with close interactions with the giraffes, but the manor is either full or a bit too pricey for your liking, then we would recommend basing yourself next door, and actually just visiting the giraffe feeding point. A far less expensive option and offering the same interactions. Then you can save your money for more nights on safari!

A Video of the Giraffe Hotel

For a little insight into what the giraffe interactions are actually like in this unique hotel, please see our youtube video.

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Client Reviews

Client Reviews

[100% BASED ON 3 REVIEWS]

Our stay at Giraffe Manor really made our time in Nairobi; the children were thrilled, and in truth, so were we. We were made to feel so welcome, and the relaxed ‘house party’ feeling was great after all the nights we had spent in hotels. We thought the staff were wonderful, and the fun of feeding the giraffes dispelled all our misgivings about adding extra nights to our trip

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- A Hope

Another enormous highlight to our trip (actually there were quite a few – the Serian entertainment being way up there on that list too) was Giraffe Manor. I know you thinks it’s a gimmick, but it was also probably one of our most favorite stops – especially for Anna and Lily (and my mom). That was an absolute highlight and a good way to end the trip. The Manor is stunning, the food was out of this world and I would call it a must stop if one is going through Kenya (especially with children.) It probably meant more to me as well because I read the book “Raising Daisy Rothschild.” It was really expensive, but totally worth it. My mom wants to go back to Kenya just to go there. We really loved it.

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- K Hooker

Another unique wildlife experience that lives up to its reputation. Stately rooms, fine food and wine, and unforgettable opportunities to get up close and personal with Rothschild giraffes. We stayed one night to close out the Kenya leg of our safari, and it was the perfect coda to the trip. You get three chances to interact with the giraffes - afternoon tea (around 6pm), morning feeding from your rooms (from certain rooms only, around 6am) and breakfast in the dining rooms (from 6.30-8am or so). Because the number of guests is limited, it really feels special and you get as much time as you want with the magnificent giraffes.